Pumping device for oil-wells.



H. R. WILLIAMS PUMPING DEVICE FOR OIL WELLS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3|, 1915.

Patented July 25, 1916.

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U ran STATES PATENT nron.

HERMAN RQWIIJLIAMS, F MANN IN G'IOIN'; WEST VIRGINIA.

PUMPING DEVICE FOR OIL-WELLS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J {11y 25,1916;

Application filed December 31, 1915. Serial No. 69,556.

lVells, of which the following is a specifica-' tion.

This invention relates broadly to pump-V ing apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for preventing the injury to oilwells which results from exhausting the oil therefrom. V

As is Well known, great injuryto a well results from the exhaustion of the oil therefrom, or from the removal of the oil to. a point where the producing sand is uncovered. Chief among the injuries resulting are that the well pressure of oil on the producing sand, required for maintaining said sand in porous condition, is removed; the

lighter hydrocarbons'which should be conserved to keep the well active are too freely carried off by the wells gases, resulting in the sand becoming coated and closed with paraffin; water entering the casingthrough leakage or otherwise is permitted to come into contact with the producing sand; and igas entering the casing above the oil-producing sand is permitted to injuriously contact with the latter. As will be understood, these remarks apply particularly to wells which have a low production and which, consequently, require pumping only at intervals.

The present inventionlh as for its primary object to provide an apparatus whereby the removal of oil below apredetermined level is effectually prevented, thereby maintain ing the producing sand sealed at all times and obviating the injuries above mentioned which may result from careless or neglect ful pumping performed with the usual apparatus heretofore employed. 4

With this andother ObjeCtSIIl view, the

invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement of parts and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be fully described reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 isa vertical section of the working barrel having reduced ends and the upper portion of the perforated tube; Fig. 2 is a similar section of the tube having reduced ends; Fig. 3 is a view showing the upper end of the anchor in vertical section and showing the packer therefor in side elevat1on;' Fig. & is a vertical section of the anchor projected through the oil-producing sand and which rests upon the well bottom; and Fig. is a partial vertical section of the adjustable check valve, enlarged.

Referring to said drawings, in which like deslgnating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several views1 indicates generally the working barrel embodying a working valve 2 and a standing valve 8,

said parts being of a common type. Con- V nected to the lower end of the working barrel by a' coupling 4: is a short nipple 5. A tube 6 of larger diameter than the working barrel 1 and nipple 5 has its opposite ends (Stand 6* reduced, as by swaging, to the diameter of said barrel and nipple, the upper of said ends being connected to said nipple by means of a coupling 7, and the lower of said ends being connected to the upper end of a packer 8 which is located at a suitable height above the oil-producing sand 9. Threaded within the lower end of the packer 8 is the upper end of a nipple 10 to the lower end of which is connected by means of a coupling 11 the upper end of the anchor 12 which extends downward through the oil-producing sand 9 and rests upon the bottom 18 of the well. Said anchor is plugged in the usual manner at a point below the sand 9, as shown at 14, and is provided above the sand with perforations 15 through which the oil enters.

The coupling 11 is of a reducing type, having an internal web 16 intermediate its ends, said web having a threaded opening 17 of relatively small size therein. Threaded into said opening 17 is the lower end of a standpipe 18 of materially less diameter than that of the nipple 10, said pipe extending upward through the interiors of said nipple lO, packer 8 and tube 6 and having its upper end located adjacent to the upper end of the body portion of said tube 6. Mounted upon the said upper end of said pipe 18 is a check valve 19 which may be of any appropriate form, but which is herein shown as of adjustable ball-check type with perforations 20 in the walls ofthe valve casing. Said valve is designed to permlt the outward passage of oil which rises to' The coupling 7 is similar in form to the coupling 11, having a web 21 provided with a relatively small threaded opening 22 in which is screwed the upper end of a small pipe 23 which is suspended within the tube 6 with its lower end open and located adj acent to the lower end of the body portion of said tube, as shown in Fig. 2.

Provided in the body portion of the tube (3 above the level of the lower end of the suspended pipe 23 are perforations 24 through which the oil may pass to and from the interior of the well-casing (not shown) which is disposed in encircling relation to said tube 6.

In'practice, the oil which flows into the 24 to the interior of the well casing in which the oil is permitted to rise as ordinarily.

In pumping, the oil is drawn upward through the suspended pipe 23 until it has receded to a point leaving the lower end of said pipe uncovered, the oil in the casing without the tube 6 returning to said tube until the lowermost of the perforations 2 L have been uncovered. As is obvious, when the lower end of said suspended pipe has been uncovered, as aforesaid, no further oil can be removed from the well. Thus, there will at all times be contained a quantity of oil completely filling the anchor 12 and the stand pipe 18, said oil serving to completely seal the producing sand against water or gas which may enter the well casing above the packer. Further, this quantity of oil will have sufficient weight to exert such a back pressure on the producing sand as will effectually prevent destruction of the natural porosity of the latter; will hold back or prevent the too rapid escape of the lighter hydrocarbons which would otherwise result; will prevent the. escape of gas which might otherwise interfere with the valves of the working barrel, and will prevent oil from being blown out of the tubing at intervals during pumping. It will thus be observed that the conservation of that condition which is necessary to maintain an oil well active for a long period of time results from the use of the invention hereinbefore described.

' What is claimed is r 1. Means for protecting the producing sand of oil-wells, comprising a tubular anchor projected through said sand, a tubular packer located above said sand, a coupling interposed between said anchor and said packer and preventing communication between said parts, a perforated tube located above and connected to said packer, a stand-pipe connected to said coupling and extending upward into said tube, said standpipe affording communication between said anchor and said tube, and a pipe depending within said tube to a point below the level of the upper end of said stand-pipe, said depending pipe affording a passage through which fluid is pumped from the well.

2. Means for protecting the producing sand of oil-wells, comprising a tubular anchor projected through said sand, a tubular packer locatedabove said sand, a coupling interposed between said anchor and said'packer and preventing communication between said parts, a perforated tube lo-. cated above and connected to said packer, a j

working barrel located above said tube, a stand-pipe connected to said coupling and extending upward into said tube, said standpipe affording a passage through which oil rises to said tube, and a pipe depending within said, tube to a point below. the level of the upper end of said stand-pipe, the suction produced in the working barrel acting to withdraw oil from the tube until the lower end thereof is uncovered.

3. Means for protecting the producing sand of oil-wells, comprising a tubular anchor projected through said sand, a tubular packer located above said sand, a coupling interposed between said anchor and said packer and preventing communication between said parts, a perforated tube located above and connected to saidpacker, a workingbarrel located above said tube, a stand-pipe connected to said coupling and extending upward into said tube, said standpipe affording a passage through which oil rises to said tube, a coupling interposed between said tube and said working barrel, a pipe depending from the last-mentioned coupling to a point within the tube below the upper end of said stand-pipe, said depending pipe afi'ording a passage through which the oil is withdrawn from said tube under the force exerted by the parts operating within the working barrel.

4. Means for protecting the producing sand of oil-wells, comprising a tubular anchor projected through said sand, a tubular packer located above said sand, a coupling lnterposed between said anchor and sa1d packer and preventing communication between said parts, an apertured tube 10- cated above and connected to said packer, a working barrel located above said tube,'a standpipe connected to said coupling and extending upward into said'tube, said standpipe affording a passage through which oil rises to said tube, a check-valve controlling the upper end of said stand-pipe, and a pipe depending within said tube to a point below the level of the upper end of said standpipe, the suction produced in the working barrel acting to Withdraw oil from the tube until the lower end thereof is uncovered.

' 5. Means for protecting the producing sand of oil-wells, comprising a tubularanchor projected through said sand, a tubular packer located above said sand, a coupling interposed between said anchor and said packer and preventing communication between said parts, an apertured tube located above and connected to said packer, a working barrel located above said tube, a stand-pipe connected to said coupling and extending upward into said tube, said stand-pipe affording a passage through which oil rises to said tube, a check-valve controlling the upper end of said standpipe, a reducing coupling interposed between said tube and said working barrel, a pipe depending from the last-mentioned coupling to a point within the tube below the upper end of said stand-pipe, said depending pipe aifording a passage through which the oil is withdrawn from said tube under the force exerted by the parts operating within the working barrel.

In testimony whereof, I aifix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMAN R. WILLIAMS. Witnesses:

D. S. GARBER, W. C. BYRD.

I Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ratents,

Washington, D. G. 

